Pneumatic action for pianos.



A. NORDEEN.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27. 1913.

1 1 80,87 1 Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

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TH! COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 320., WASHINGTON, D. C-

AUGUST NOBDEEN, OF CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR PIANOS.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

Applicationfiled October 27, 1913. Serial No. 797,581.

To all'whom it may concern Be it known that I, AUeUsr NORDEEN, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of Gonnersville, county of Fayette,and

5 State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful PneumaticAction for Pianos; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction of pneumaticpianos, particularly the construction and arrangement of ower pneumaticstherein.

ne feature of the invention consists in providing a pair 'of secondaryvalves in place of one secondary valve, in order that a more rapid andsatisfactory operation of the power pneumatic will ensue. This enablesone to make the valves of smaller size than when one secondary valve isused and at the same time get an increased air action.

Another feature of the invention consists in mounting a plurality ofpower pneumatics on one base block and so that the two power pneumaticswill be operated from a single air outlet by the suction.

The various features of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a part of a player pianoshowing a num ber of power pneumatics and accompanying parts, partsbeing broken away. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of one of the base platessupporting a pair of power pneumatics. Fig. 6 is a section on the line6--6 of Fig. 3.

There is a main vertically disposed plate 45 10 in the lower portion ofwhich there is a suction chamber 11 with suitable air exhausting means.Upon the plate 10 there is a plate 12 and a conduit 13 leading throughsaid plates 10 and 12 from each 50 power pneumatic to a tracker board,not shown. To the plate 10 the base plates 15 are secured by rods 16extending through grooves 17 in the lateral edges of said plates andthrough transverse plates 18 across the 55 ends of the base plates sothat said base plates will be readily mounted and extend horizontallyfrom the plate 10. Tobthe underside of each plate 15 two powerpneumatics 20 are secured and from the movable side of each powerpneumatic an arm 21 projects which is connected by a rod 22 with theouter end of a lever 23, the inner end of said lever being fulcrumed at24 on a projection 25 from the plate 10. Said levers are limited intheir movement by the stops 26 on threaded rods 27 extending from thevertical lower projection 28 from the plate 12.

I the base plate 15 there is apair of parallel suction chambers 30 incommunication with a single outlet 31 which is horizontally disposed andleads to the main suction chamber 11. At the end of each suction chamber30 there is a primary valve 32 of usual type.

The primary valve is supported on a pouch 33 closing chamber 34 whichthrough a port 35 is in communication with the air passage 13 leading tothe tracker board. When the air passage 13 is open the air in chamber 34will elevate the pouch 33 and, therefore, open the primary valve andpermit outside air to enter a port 36 normally closed by the primaryvalve and pass through a conduit 37 to a chamber 38 under a pouch 39 onwhich one secondary valve 40 rests. Said chamber 38 is, through a port41, in communication with a chamber 42 under a pouch 43 supportinganother secondary valve 44. The air entering from the outside throughthe channels beneath said pouches 39 and 42 lifts the secondary valvesand opens the ports 45 and 46 which connect the suction chamber 30 witha chamber 47 which, through a conduit 48 leads to the chamber in thepower pneumatic. The suction of air from the chamber in the powerpneumatic when said valves are actuated, operates the power pneumatic,causing it to collapse, as shown in the middle portion of F ig. 2. Thereis a bleed hole 50 leading from a chamber 51 which, through conduits 52,is in communication with the chamber 34 under each primary valve, seeFig. 4. Therefore, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the one base or block15 is arranged so that, while it has only one outlet 31, it will havesuitable chambers and ports and valves for operating two powerpneumatics. This simplifies the construction of pneumatic pianos and yeteach power pneumatic is enabled to perform its individual function.Furthermore, the construction is simplified and the action improved byproviding two relatively small secondary valves which can be readilyinstalled in a relatively smaller structure of the device than if onelarge secondary valve were employed for doing the work of these twovalves. By having two secondary valves the action of the device ismaterially quicker than when only one secondary valve is employed. Theextent of operation or movement of one of the secondary valves islimited and controlled by a tubular air inlet port 60 which screws intoa cover plate 61 secured on the base block over the chamber 47. When theconduit 13 of the tracker board is closed, said tubular port 60 isopened and air is admitted through chambers 47 and 48 to the chamber inthe power pneumatic 20, but when air is admitted through the conduit 13and a secondary valve 4a is pushed up or actuated, it closes said port60 so that air cannot enter the chamber 47 from the outside and the airfrom the power pneumatic will be exhausted. Therefore, the parts 60perform two functions, one as an air inlet port and the other as a meansfor limiting the movement of the secondary valve 44.

The invention is:

1. In a pneumatic piano, a power pneumatic structure provided with aprimary valve and a plurality of secondary valves cooperating therewith.

2. In a pneumatic piano, a power pneumatic structure provided with aprimary valve, a plurality of secondary valves, a. pouch for eachsecondary valve provided with a chamber under each pouch and saidchambers being in communication with each other, and a port controlledby the primary valve whereby the secondary valves will cooperate.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presenceof the witnesses herein named.

AUGUST NORDEEN.

Witnesses REUBEN CONNER, MAUDE I. TAYLOR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0."

